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Trump escalates threats to Germany over trade on Tuesday

President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel participate in a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, March 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

WASHINGTON — With all President Donald Trump has on his plate this week — staff shakeups, the Russia probes and Jared Kushner; health care, budget, debt ceiling and the Paris climate deal —– on Tuesday morning he decided to escalate his attack on Germany over trade.

Trump increasingly is viewing his foreign policy through the lenses of trade rather than taking a multidimensional approach. Just consider: Trump in the past days has been tougher on strong NATO allies than on Russia.

The volley against Germany came in one of three early Tuesday Twitter posts:

We have a MASSIVE trade deficit with Germany, plus they pay FAR LESS than they should on NATO & military. Very bad for U.S. This will change